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8 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2005 Town draft bylaw raises licensing concerns BY FRANCES NIBLOCK The New Tanner Questions, suggestions and concerns from seven speakers at a public meeting on the Town's draft Business License bylaw last Monday will be considered in staff's final report to Council on April 4. Changes in the Municipal Act include requirements that the Town licence businesses to protect the public from health and safety risks, distur- ose" bance or nuisance and from unfair business practices. A required review of the Town's licencing bylaws resulted in a draft bylaw that reduces the Town's 47 classes of business licences to 12, has a simpler classi- fication system and a single licence system that will help the 42 per cent of businesses that take out two or more licences. Currently, only 25 per cent of retail stores and shops are licensed in Halton Hills, but the bylaw expands licensing in the retail sector to include them all. As well, all busi- nesses applying for a licence must be handicapped acces- sible. While the fee for a per- formance/concert licence would jump 354 per cent to $275 from $75, some fees are lower than last year, and some rates are cheaper than those in the GTA. At the public meeting on the draft bylaw, Georgetown resident Laura Ellison said = Bulk Collection Place items at curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated bulk collection day. Check the map for your corresponding collection zone. Items will be collected on the day designated for your zone. Bulk Waste Collection Monday, March 7 Tuesday, March 8 Wednesday, March 9 Zone 4 ~=Thursday, March 10 Friday, March 11 Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 5 4 Zz s x 3 ze) Q. 2s ae 24 8 * Tires* breeding sites. The following materials will NOT be collected: * Propane Tanks * Building and Demolition Debris * Concrete and Bricks * Household Hazardous Waste * Cardboard Boxes * Tree Branches * Tree Stumps * Soil and Rocks * Automobile Parts *Old tires filled with water can be mosquito These materials may be disposed of at the Halton Waste Management Site, 5400 Regional Rd # 25, Milton. Open Mon. - Sat., 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. '$2"Ge IWNOID AY, the adult entertainment by- law should require an adult entertainment establishment to have a separate entrance if located in a multi-use build- ing. "T think it would behoove us to step back and think about whether or not they should share a common ac- cess to that building with other clients who may be children at a gymnastics club," Ellison said. (Adult entertainment establishment licences double to $10,000.) Chris Adamson of Georgetown, complained of unlicenced trades, including furnace and air conditioning installers, that cross into Hal- ton Hills from neighbouring areas. He said a strong Town licensing bylaw is important to the local economy. Georgetown resident David Harley said licensing is about "control, and who has it," and asked the Town to consider licensing people who rent out an apartment in a house, saying they are a burden that don't pay. " Their operations add to the cost of this corporation by impacting on education, policing, fire protection, day care, recreation programs, traffic, parks roads, park- ing garbage pickup social services and so on," Harley said. A warning to local busi- nesses to "watch out" for the draft Licensing Bylaw came from Brian Asbury, owner of a salvage yard in Crewson's Corners, based on his deal- ings with the Town over the salvage yard bylaw review. "Much like the disastrous salvage yard bylaw, which was supposed to be simple and straightforward, this Po bylaw tonight is also nothing but a bureaucrat's wish list," Asbury said. Asbury said while the in- stinct of many small business will be to concentrate on the new fees in the draft bylaw, that's a mistake, because he found the "devil is in the details," in relation to the sal- vage yard bylaw that included a $500 licence fee and almost $50,000 to meet new condi- tions in the bylaw. Staff said the cost of hiring a business licencing liaison and a business relations of- ficer, would be covered by the additional licencing revenues the bylaw would generate. LEADERS CHOICE: The recent Greater Halton Area Kub Kar Rally at St. George's Church, George- town Feb. 19 attracted, more than 100 Cubs, their siblings and parent sup- porters. Pictured is 1* Acton Cub, Jake Urquhart who poses with the trophy and award he earned for "Leader's Choice" of Kub Kar. Also taking home part of the loot was 1 Acton Cub, Nigel Buttivant who won the award for "Cubs Choice". -- Submitted photo Expectant Parent Show Sunday March 6th at 2:30p.m. | Gellert Centre in Asbury said some may call that "revenue neutral" but, to him, "small and medium- sized businesses' pockets are being picked, and the money is being used to hire the pick- pockets." Jake Adema of Jake's Auto Service asked how the new bylaw protects again unfair business practices and if the Town will now mediate dis- putes. He also noted that the draft bylaw states it will pro- vide a "level playing field" for all businesses. He asked if it is "fair and just" that a heating contractor and an electrical contrac- tor located on either side of his business each pay a $55 business licensing fee, while his fee is increasing to $ 180 from $160. Rob Arsenault of Fred's Towing in Georgetown, who noted his licencing fees this year would be $1,000, said the bylaw does not address "chasers" or unlicensed tow truck drivers who come into Halton Hills from neighbour- ing communities to poach business and charge huge rates. The Town presented the draft bylaw to the Chamber of Commerce and Acton and Georgetown BIAs (Business Improvement Areas) before the public meeting. Look for Earth Day Heroes Earth Day Canada is now accepting nominations for the 2005 Hometown Heroes Award. Applications must be postmarked no later than Earth Day, April 22, 2005. The winner will be honoured at a Gala dinner in Toronto on June 2, 2005. Help EDC discover and honour an unsung hero in your community -- the kind of person who gets things done for the environment, a release from Earth Day Canada urges. Glynis Logue of Guelph, Ontario, won the 2004 Home- town Heroes Award. Ten years SN HLHOIa Gy TIHOWN! Georgetown of leadership and commitment to wildlife habitat preservation and restoration, community environmental improvements, and community garden projects have earned her this distinc- tion. For more information or to nominate someone for the Hometown Heroes Award go to earthday.ca. JETLINK AIRPORT SERVICE Serving Acton, Georgetown, Rockwood, Hillsburg and Ballinafad area. When you book your winter vacation, don't forget to book us too!! CALL TO RESERVE A division of ; Tyler Transport Ltd. (519) 853-1550 or toll free 1-800-73TYLER GA1g THIHOYNHS NOLSNIM www.havingababy.ca » FREE ADMISSION, | GIFT BAG FOR MOM- | to-be, DOOR PRIZES | Call Gina at (905) 840-0877 or _comalle (416) 364-9010 to register WV 30) If you have unwanted items that are in good condition, consider donating them to a charitable organization or reuse centre. You will be diverting material away from Halton's landfill and helping people in need at the same time! Appliances and metal items are collected on a call-in basis only and therefore will not be collected on your scheduled Bulk Collection Day. To receive collection, please call Halton Region at 1-866-442-5866. Metal items and appliances include refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, stoves, washers, dryers, metal furniture, broken down swing sets, barbeques (no propane tanks), bicycles (no tires), etc. Please ensure appliance doors are removed for safety. TRANSPORT és 1-800-738-9537